Do I still need an accountant if I use Xero?

Xero records, organises and reports financial data. An accountant checks the treatment, deals with tax and statutory obligations and helps interpret what the figures mean. The software doesn't take professional responsibility for the result.

Bank feeds, rules and document capture can save a lot of time, but they can also repeat the same mistake very efficiently. Someone still needs to make sure transactions are complete, correctly treated and supported.

For a very simple business, the accountant may mainly provide compliance support. As the business grows, the value shifts towards management reporting, forecasting and advice around decisions rather than simply producing the year-end figures.

The best combination is good software, accurate records and somebody who knows what to look for. That gives both you and your accountant one current version of the numbers to work from.